Paris sales shopping

After its cultural attractions, Paris is surely best known as a shopper’s paradise. From the chic designer boutiques on Rue du Faubourg to the imposing department stores on Boulevard Haussman Paris’ reputation as one of the shopping meccas of the world has never been so strong. Paris fashion is above all distinguished for its classic lines and chic style rather than inventive designs or experimental fashion, so Paris sales are the ideal opportunity to invest in some quality timeless garments.

Since 1999, when the regulation was put in place to define the official dates that shops are permitted to have sales, the Paris January sales experience has in many ways become much simpler. The 2008 Paris sales will hits the window displays and rails from 9^th January for a period of six weeks in which price tags will often be slashed by a whopping 70% or more.

The large department stores on Boulevard Haussman are the first logical port of call. With a long standing reputation in the Parisian fashion world, dating back to 1865, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette are the best known department stores in Paris and great starting point for attacking the sales. This is the ideal opportunity to snap up luxury goods and classic style garment at severely reduced prices. Forget rock bottom last season’s fashion items, look carefully and select quality items and brands which would otherwise be out of price reach. Another popular department store is La Sarmanitaine, a mammoth five storey complex located in the 1^st arrondissement between Les Halles and Port Neuf.

For those seeking offers in smaller boutiques and a more personal approach, rue des Franc-Bourgeois in the Marais (4^th arrondissement) is the ideal shopping destination.

Soldes by Paris

In order to develop Paris as the ultimate sales shopping destination, the Soldes By Paris’, event was launched for the first time last year to encourage visitors to travel to Paris for the January sales whilst facilitating a potentially overwhelming experience. The event, which will take place between the 9^th and 20^th January, brings together over 1500 shops and over 500 hotels and restaurants with the idea of coordinating certain shopping routes in order to meet the needs of the visitor.

The five themed shopping routes complete with trilingual guides have been developed to suit different tastes, needs and personalities, under the titles of chic, trendy, extraordinary, romantic and creative. Visitors who are willing to participate in this will be able to pick up a welcome pack from one of the participating hotels and a magazine to guide them through the complex maze of the sales. Furthermore a series of shopping stations will be located on each of the shopping routes to give the weary shopper advice (and the courage to go on).

Whether self organized or with the help of Soldes by Paris, a short winter break in Paris is the ideal way to combine sightseeing with some serious sales shopping. From the base of a comfortable Paris apartment the visitor can make the most of a January city break.

Outside Paris: the palace of Versailles

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Chateau of Versailles, emblematic of the opulence of European aristocracy. In a space of just 60 years from 1624-1683, the hunting lodge built on the swamplands outside of Paris by Louis XIV’s father, was dramatically transformed into the exuberantly luxurious palace which we know today. In1682 Versailles became the official residence of the king of France. A showcase of royal wealth and power in the 17^th century a trip to Versailles transforms you to the former supremacy and opulence of the pre-revolution French aristocracy.

Sights
In order to fully appreciate the sights of Versailles, it is recommended that the visitor spend at least one full day in the palace and gardens. The principal attraction is of course the grandiose Chateau itself where the visitor is treated to a glimpse into the life of the former glory days of the Ancien Regime.

Perhaps the most famous attraction of Versailles is the 73m long Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors), encompassing a total of 357 full-length mirrors. In the glory days of the palace the Hall of Mirrors also contained a wealth of silver furniture, but this was later melted down for war funds. Charles Le Brun was commissioned to decorate the elaborate ceiling, under the order of the Sun King, in order to depict the benefits of French rule. Louis himself appears in several of the 30 scenes, dressed as a grand historic figure such as a Roman Emperor or war chief. It was also famously the location of the 1919 signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty between Germany and the allies. The Galerie des Glaces is currently undergoing a major project of restoration meaning that access is prohibited or restricted to visitors so it is worth enquiring before visiting.

The park and gardens cover 875 hectares of land, however the estate once extended to over 8,000 hectares in the glory days of Louis’ hunting grounds. The extensive formal gardens were designed and created by designer and architect André le Nôtre but Louis himself was highly proactive in the design and creation of the gardens, which he considered almost as important as the grand rooms of the chateau. The spectacular fountains are arguably the greatest outdoor legacy of Versailles and during the summer months the fountain displays accompanied by the baroque music that was contemporary of the time, are certainly worth looking out for.

Practical information
If you are staying in Paris accommodation in the centre of the city a day trip to Versailles is quite straightforward. To get to Versailles from the centre of Paris, take the RER C from Montparnasse station to Versailles Rive Gauche, from which you have a 5 minute walk to the Paris. The RER takes roughly 40 minutes to arrive at Versailles.

The chateau is open from Tuesday to Sunday, opening exceptionally on a Monday for French Public holidays. Opening times are from 9.00 to 17.30 from November to March and from 9.00 until 18.30 from April to October. The garden however is open from 8.00 daily.